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Anaheim Ducks Roster Updates: Poehling, McQueen, Mitchell, and Gauthier
Roger McQueen, Anaheim Ducks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The Anaheim Ducks have made some roster moves to start the week. Ryan Poehling, Roger McQueen, and Travis Mitchell have been shuffled around within the organization. Additionally, Cutter Gauthier is out with an injury.

Poehling Out 6-8 Weeks

Center Ryan Poehling is slated to miss six to eight weeks with a sprained MCL. He went down last Saturday night in the team’s game against the Calgary Flames. After he scored a shorthanded goal on goaltender Dustin Wolf, Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh collided with him, knocking his feet out from under him and sending him crashing into the net.

He slammed his knee against the post and lay on the ice in pain. He needed help getting off the ice and immediately headed to the dressing room. He was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday and will not return until at least the end of November.

He had a two-point performance in the team’s contest against the Flames. He had 11 goals and 25 assists last season and helped the Ducks in their playoff run with an additional four goals. He missed the final game of the series versus the Vegas Golden Knights due to a concussion.

Unfortunately, Poehling is no stranger to injuries. In the last four seasons as a full-time NHL player, he has yet to play all 82 games. Hopefully his recovery is quick and easy, as he contributes positively to the Ducks time and time again.

McQueen Recalled

The Ducks have since recalled forward Roger McQueen from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Also a center, he is likely to slot right into Poehling’s spot in the lineup as he starts his stint in Anaheim. The 20-year-old scored three goals in as many games to start off the season in San Diego, leading the team in scoring.

He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team in April after being selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He made his debut with the Gulls at the end of the 2025-26 season, totaling six points in 11 games.


Roger McQueen, Anaheim Ducks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

At the beginning of last season, he played at Providence College, where he scored 11 goals and notched 16 assists in 36 games. He was selected as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie Team due to his impressive performance. Additionally, he scored three game-winning goals and had six multi-point games throughout the season.

Mitchell Reassigned to San Diego

Defenseman Travis Mitchell was reassigned to the Gulls on Monday. He made his Ducks debut right out of training camp, where he played well. However, he has not tallied any points in his first five games and needs more time to develop both offensively and defensively in the AHL. He recorded three shots, served nine penalty minutes, and averaged 16:36 on ice.

This is his first season in Anaheim after starting his career with the New York Islanders and their affiliate team, the Bridgeport Islanders. He has played 14 NHL games and scored one goal. In Bridgeport, he totaled 34 points in 163 games.

Defenseman Drew Helleson is expected to take his place on the blue line, as he was seen skating alongside Pavel Mintyukov during Monday’s practice and Tuesday’s morning skate.

Gauthier Out

No one seems to be 100% certain what happened to forward Cutter Gauthier, who left Saturday’s game against the Flames early. He took just five shifts and spent 2:18 on ice before heading down the tunnel. He is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He participated in solo drills during Monday’s practice but left the ice before line rushes and team drills.

The Ducks will face the Flames once again on Tuesday night in Anaheim and will finish the week by hosting the Boston Bruins on Friday.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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